❓ Question addresses Rottnest Island's tourism appeal and infrastructure in light of increased visitor numbers. The Minister details significant state and federal government investment in infrastructure upgrades to support tourism on the island.
AnsweredQoN 95Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — ROTTNEST
ISLAND
95. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in tourism, which is delivering a record
number of visitors to WA, supporting WA tourism businesses and helping create
jobs. Can the minister update the house on how this government is ensuring that
Rottnest Island remains an attractive tourism destination for visitors and can
continue supporting the number of tourists who visit the island every year?
ISLAND
95. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in tourism, which is delivering a record
number of visitors to WA, supporting WA tourism businesses and helping create
jobs. Can the minister update the house on how this government is ensuring that
Rottnest Island remains an attractive tourism destination for visitors and can
continue supporting the number of tourists who visit the island every year?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his
enthusiastic support of tourism and for that question. Rottnest Island is a great
story for all Western Australians—I do not think anyone would dispute
that. We have massively boosted the number of visitors to the island under the
McGowan government. In fact, last year we exceeded the 2034 target for visitor
numbers, with over 800 000 visitors, and that was the number anticipated a decade
or more hence. It is going really well. That
obviously brings with it challenges and concerns around ensuring that the
facilities meet the requirements of the additional load and the demand.
That was why I was very happy to recently go to Fremantle and announce with the
federal assistant minister a combined amount of more than $33 million spend on
the island, which is the biggest infrastructure spend in a long time on the
island. Of that, $16.2 million was from the state government, which will
predominantly go towards some really substantial upgrades to core
infrastructure. The fuel jetty is going to be completely rebuilt, effectively.
There will also be construction of a new barge landing area to ease the
pressure on the main jetty and move logistics out of the settlement area. The
fuel jetty will offer improved facilities and accessibility to the island, including
power and water, new finger jetties, improved refuelling and berthing for small vessels, and an extended end platform. The
tender for that is being sought right now. We will see the demolition and reconstruction of that facility very soon, and Western Australians will be
able to see their tax dollars put to good use on the island.
The federal government has also come
to the party, and I am very thankful for that. There was $17.2 million from the
federal government under its tourism icons program. That money will start to be
spent soon. Nine projects will benefit from the funding, including the rugged
and remote west end, which, by the end of this year, will have new shelters,
seating, access pathways, viewing platforms and an ablution building. The project
will also deliver public artwork and interactive features by Noongar artists at
that part of the island. There will also be new infrastructure at one of the
island's premier swimming spots—the Basin—that many on
this side enjoyed recently. The Treasurer, in his absence, will be very happy
to hear that not only will ablutions facilities be improved, but also I am sure
the foot-washing facilities will be improved so that he will not have to have
dirty feet when he goes into his chalet in the future. That is an in-joke! The
Wadjemup Hill lighthouse area is also having a makeover, including a transport
hub, a new shaded seating area and an upgrade to the lighthouse keeper's
cottage. There will be new wayfinding signage to help visitors navigate around
the island. I would like to conclude by thanking the federal government for its
contribution. It has worked with us on this. As a consequence of our $16 million
contribution and the federal government's $17 million contribution, we
have the biggest investment on infrastructure on the island by a state
government since the last time WA Labor was in government, and that is a significant
thing. I think there was a pretty good tourism minister at that point. He was
not quite as exceptional as the current one, but he did well and he delivered,
and he is delivering again as the Premier!
enthusiastic support of tourism and for that question. Rottnest Island is a great
story for all Western Australians—I do not think anyone would dispute
that. We have massively boosted the number of visitors to the island under the
McGowan government. In fact, last year we exceeded the 2034 target for visitor
numbers, with over 800 000 visitors, and that was the number anticipated a decade
or more hence. It is going really well. That
obviously brings with it challenges and concerns around ensuring that the
facilities meet the requirements of the additional load and the demand.
That was why I was very happy to recently go to Fremantle and announce with the
federal assistant minister a combined amount of more than $33 million spend on
the island, which is the biggest infrastructure spend in a long time on the
island. Of that, $16.2 million was from the state government, which will
predominantly go towards some really substantial upgrades to core
infrastructure. The fuel jetty is going to be completely rebuilt, effectively.
There will also be construction of a new barge landing area to ease the
pressure on the main jetty and move logistics out of the settlement area. The
fuel jetty will offer improved facilities and accessibility to the island, including
power and water, new finger jetties, improved refuelling and berthing for small vessels, and an extended end platform. The
tender for that is being sought right now. We will see the demolition and reconstruction of that facility very soon, and Western Australians will be
able to see their tax dollars put to good use on the island.
The federal government has also come
to the party, and I am very thankful for that. There was $17.2 million from the
federal government under its tourism icons program. That money will start to be
spent soon. Nine projects will benefit from the funding, including the rugged
and remote west end, which, by the end of this year, will have new shelters,
seating, access pathways, viewing platforms and an ablution building. The project
will also deliver public artwork and interactive features by Noongar artists at
that part of the island. There will also be new infrastructure at one of the
island's premier swimming spots—the Basin—that many on
this side enjoyed recently. The Treasurer, in his absence, will be very happy
to hear that not only will ablutions facilities be improved, but also I am sure
the foot-washing facilities will be improved so that he will not have to have
dirty feet when he goes into his chalet in the future. That is an in-joke! The
Wadjemup Hill lighthouse area is also having a makeover, including a transport
hub, a new shaded seating area and an upgrade to the lighthouse keeper's
cottage. There will be new wayfinding signage to help visitors navigate around
the island. I would like to conclude by thanking the federal government for its
contribution. It has worked with us on this. As a consequence of our $16 million
contribution and the federal government's $17 million contribution, we
have the biggest investment on infrastructure on the island by a state
government since the last time WA Labor was in government, and that is a significant
thing. I think there was a pretty good tourism minister at that point. He was
not quite as exceptional as the current one, but he did well and he delivered,
and he is delivering again as the Premier!
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